This year I was extremely fortunate to get to marry my partner in crime and I can’t talk about style and and fashion without addressing the most iconic look I’ve ever worn, my wedding outfit! From the accessories to the dress, I am OBSESSED with my entire look from the day. To start off, I won’t lie, I spent a pretty penny on this. While there are plenty of more budget friendly options that look amazing, I am nothing if not bougie and having worked in bridal, I knew I wanted a dress that was something I had not seen before. Your standard A-line gown with lace would not do and having dressed a lot of brides, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Enter Vivian.
The Vivian by Dany Tabet is a Satin V-neck ballgown with a custom beaded bodice and basque waist. While the neckline is more modern, the silhouette and overall feel of the gown is classic and timeless. What truly sets this dress apart is the beading. Beading on this type of fabric is not common and certainly not easy, often needing to be done by hand. However, it is that attention to detail and care that went into this dress that I fell in love with.
This dress ticked off everything I wanted, satin, beading, classic lines, lowkey sparkle, ball gown, and strapless. Yes, strapless. I specifically wanted strapless, which in my experience and the experience of my bridal stylist is not a common request. There seems to be a misconception that strapless dresses are more annoying. The most common response I would get in my bridal days was that they did not want to be pulling up their dress all night. And to that I say, if the dress is tailored and fitted right to your body, that dress ain’t going anywhere.
That said, a good fit takes time and money and if you're looking for the cheapest rate, you are likely getting cheaper work. I know that might ruffle some feathers, and I am not saying that there aren’t people who do good work that charge cheaper rates. But I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard brides and friends be surprised or upset at the cost of their alterations. Seamstresses are technical geniuses, expected to alter and reconstruct a dress to look exactly as the designer sample. That takes days and an incredible amount of skill to do seamlessly and my gown was no exception. Not only was my hem brought up, the bodice of my dress was brought in on either side and boning was added to increase the structural integrity of the neckline. Then to top it off an whopping 19 point bustle was needed for my train. While many of these changes felt small, the overall difference they made was staggering because that dress fit like a glove. Once zipped in, that dress did not slip down once and the bustle points never came undone no matter the amount of dancing I did.
Next, let’s talk about accessories! For the majority of my accessories the day of, I chose a few pieces from Paris by Debra Moreland. Debra Moreland is a designer out of Cincinnati, Ohio who specializes in handmade heirloom pieces inspired by nature and natural elements. To get connected to these pieces, I attended a trunk show where Debra herself and her Director of Sales were styling brides personally. Working with the sales director, I chose their cathedral length Moon and Stars veil with pearls and sequins. For jewelry, I chose a set of drop earrings with pearl, crystal, and gold. Then I combined elements from two different headpieces into my own custom creation. The halo and floral adornments from one and the strands of dangly pearls from another. Other jewelry not pictured that I wore is a gold bracelet we bought in Florence, Italy at a shop on the the Ponte Vecchio bridge, and of course my wedding and engagement rings.
The details will always matter and were my favorite part of curating my look. No matter how small and fine, they are meaningful. Providing the chance to add bits of yourself into a look you will remember for a lifetime.
Finally we need to have a moment for my Husband. While he doesn’t have an many pieces, just much thought and care went into his ensemble. He is wearing a custom tailored suit from Indochino in hunter green with brown buttons and double breasted vest. One of the great things about this company is you can customize almost everything right down to the lining and monogramming. Ultimately he went with a floral lining and has our initials along with our wedding date stitched inside. To complete the look, he paired the suit with shoes from Nordstrom Rack and a tie from Dazi.
While some may say all of this work and prep into an outfit you wear once isn’t worth it. But I personally think that they are wrong and I am here to tell you that living out your vision is always worth it. Whether you want off the rack or couture, don’t be afraid to put everything you want into your look. I have never felt as beautiful as I did that day and that is a feeling I will remember for a lifetime.
The Vendors List
Dany Tabet is a self taught couture designer from Beirut. Learn more about him here or look him up on Instagram! https://www.danytabet.com/about
Debra Moreland is a designer who is local to Ohio and has had her pieces featured with other bridal powerhouses such as Vera Wang and Lazaro. You can also find her on Instagram or by visiting her website! https://www.parisbydebramoreland.com/ourstory
Indochino is a based out of Canada and specializes in made-to-measure suiting. You can go in store for the full experience or if you already know your measurements, you can order online! https://www.indochino.com/about
Wedding Photos by Magical Minutes Photography who you can also find on Instagram.
For more specific vendor referrals for weddings in Central Ohio, please reach out on my advise column!
